Louis XVI Decision Making
Game – CAN YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD
In this decision making simulation you will be
given the same choices that Louis XVI faced
during the Early Stages of the French
Revoltuion (1787-1791)
Select what way you believe is the best way to
handle the situation.
• You start off with a total of 100 respect points.
• The total will change depending on the choices you
make.
• Keep score as you go through the simulation – it will
affect your overall outcome at the end.
About Louis XVI
 Louis had some very strong opinions about his role as the
king of France.
 “Power belongs to me alone – it is not shared with anyone
else.” Louis XVI 1766
 These views led to his eventual imprisonment and execution.
 Can you do better?
Decision 1: You need more money
It’s February 1787: Your government is spending more money than
it receives. To improve your situation, your finance minister has
devised a new scheme to tax the rich landowners. These extra
taxes will help raise some money.
He has invited a group of noblemen to Paris to approve the new tax.
The nobles have said they do not have the power to approve the
new taxes.
Back down and sack your finance minister.
OR
Stand firm and force the nobles to agree to the new tax.
You choose to back down and sack
your finance minister
This was probably the best decision under the circumstances.
Your finance minister, however, is disgusted by your betrayal
and the people are growing concerned by your lack of
leadership.
Your financial situation is getting worse
Lose 5 respect points
You choose to force the nobles to agree
A poor decision
The noblemen refuse to give into your attempt at
bullying and you are eventually forced to back down.
You have offended some of the most powerful people in
the country.Your financial situation is worsening.
Lose 10 respect points you sucker!
What does Louis really do?
In real life, Louis chose to back down.
His finance minister, Charles Alexandre de Calonne, was
sacked, and Louis was forced to consider other plans.
His reputation suffered as a result of his humiliation.
Decision 2: You are nearly bankrupt!
It’s August 1788: People are hungry and riots are
occurring in many parts of France.
You have tried to introduce some new taxes through the Paris
Parliament. The Parliament has said, however, that only the
Estates can approve new taxes. The Estates General has not
met for over 100 years.
Order that new elections be held for the Estates General.
OR
Look for other ways to earn some money.
You choose to order elections.
A good decision
The people are relieved you are taking
action. They look to you, their King, for
guidance in this time of need.
At last you have identified a way forward.
Earn 5 respect points.
You chose to investigate other ways to
make money.
A poor decision
The people are angry that you are failing to take action.
They are concerned with your apparent lack of interest
in their problems.
They demand that you order the new elections.You are
forced to give in.
Lose 10 respect points, sucker!
What did Louis really do?
In real life Louis recognized the need for urgent action.
He ordered the new elections to take place in 1789…not such
a bad guy after all?
Decision 3: The Third Estate is
UNHAPPY!
It’s February 1789: On your orders the
Estates General is being re-established.
The members of the third estate, however, believe that the
current voting system is unfair. They want twice as many
members and feel like every member should have a vote.
This would bring them into line with the other Estates.
Reject both demands
OR
Only agree to let them have more members
OR
Only agree to let them have one vote
You chose to reject both demands
A poor decision
Your hard-line approach offends many members of the Third
Estate. They accuse you of being unsympathetic to the needs
of the common people.
Be careful! You are becoming unpopular.
Lose 15 respect points – meanie!
You choose to allow more members
A fair decision under the circumstances.
Your moderate approach satisfies the Third Estate, but your
decision is ridiculed in the newspapers.
They suggest that the new members will not support your
wishes. By allowing more third estate members, you have
increased the number of enemies
in the Estates General.
Your position is weakened – softie!
Lose 10 respect points.
You choose to allow each member one
vote
The best decision under the circumstances.
Your moderate approach is very popular with the people.
However, by allowing each member a vote you have still
made your enemies powerful.
Lose 5 respect points
What did Louis really do?
In real life, Louis agreed to double the number of Third
Estate representatives.
This decision, however, was made under the
assumption that each Estate would meet separately.
Louis thought that the extra members would make
no difference since the Third Estate would still be
outnumbered by the first and second Estates.
What happened next took Louis by surprise…
Decision 4: The Estates want to form a
National Assembly
It’s May 1789: The Estates General has just met for the first time.
You have told the different Estates that they are to meet
separately in the future.
However, the members of the third Estate do not like this. They want all
three Estates to form one National Assembly and to meet and discuss
things together.
Some members of the First and Second Estate have threatened to join the
Third Estate in protest at your interference.
Use your soldiers to make them meet separately
OR
Give in and let them meet together as a National Assembly
You choose to use your soldiers
A bad decision that backfires.
Your use of force is seen as too excessive.Your reputation
suffers and you are eventually forced to give in.
Loose 15 respect points.
You choose to give in and accept the
New National Assembly
The best decision under the circumstances
By accepting their wishes you have avoided a disastrous
confrontation with the members you wanted elected.
Your reputation still suffers slightly from giving in.
Loose 5 respect points
What did Louis XVI really do?
Louis was eventually forced to give in and allow
the three Estates to meet together.
By this time he had already lost considerable
power. A National Assembly was formed thus
signaling the end of the absolutism in France.
Decision 5: The people are uneasy
It’s June 1789:You are concerned that the French guards have
become too sympathetic to the new National Assembly.You order
that thousands of new soldiers be posted in Paris to provide you
with more security.
Many people are worried by the arrival of extra soldiers. They
suspect that you will use them to shut down the National
Assembly.
Send some of your new soldiers away to calm down the people.
OR
Call in even more soldiers to show that you are still in charge.
You choose to send some of your new
soldiers away
A wise decision
The people are relieved that the soldiers are gone.
You have diffused a potentially difficult situation.
Gain 5 respect points.
You choose to call in even more
soldiers
A bad decision.
Your extra soldiers upset the people – riots break
out in parts of Paris.
You are becoming more unpopular by the day.
Lose 5 respect points.
What did Louis XVI really do?
In real life, Louis decided to send in more soldiers.
The people were enraged by this decision. In anger they
stormed the Bastille.
Louis was eventually forced to withdraw his extra soldiers.
Decision 6: A new Declaration is
published
It’s July 1789: The security situation is deteriorating. The
Bastille has just been attacked. Elsewhere, people are
rioting in many parts of France.
The National Assembly has published a document titled
“The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.”
This new declaration describes how all the French people
should be treated as equals. It will affect many of the
privileges that the French upper class enjoy.
Offer your support of the new Declaration
OR
Refuse to accept the new Declaration
You choose to support the new
declaration
Although your wealthy friends are dismayed, the
people respect your decision to support the
declaration.
Many are pleased with your willingness to
modernize and compromise with the National
Assembly
Gain 5 respect points
You choose to reject the new
declaration
The people are upset by your
rejection.
Many are angered by your arrogance and
your refusal to acknowledge equal rights.
Anti-royal demonstrations occur.
Lose 15 respect points
What did Louis really do?
In real life, Louis rejected the declaration, claiming that it
would undermine French society.
Many saw his decision as a
desperate attempt to hold onto
his remaining power.
Decision 7: A group of protesters has
gathered
It’s October 1789: Thousands of protesters have marched to your
palace at Versailles.
They have been stopped from entering the palace by your soldiers,
but they are demanding bread and a meeting with you.
Use your soldiers to disburse the protestors
OR
Flee to avoid the danger
OR
Agree to their demands
You choose to use the soldiers to
disburse the crowd
A DISASTEROUS move.
Your decision to use your soldiers to disburse the
crowd is a complete over-reaction. The crowd
disbands but violence quickly breaks out.
Your reputation suffers greatly.
You really are a bad ruler…
Lose 15 respect points
You choose to flee the danger
Your palace is surrounded by thousands of
protesters.
Your feeble attempt to escape comes to nothing.
You are quickly spotted and are forced to meet
the protesters.
Your reputation suffers badly.
Lose 10 respect points…how many do
you
even have left?!
You chose to accept their demands
The best decision under the circumstances
The decision to meet the protesters helps to calm things
down a bit.
You are however, still humiliated by the experience.
Lose 5 respect points.
What did Louis XVI really do?
In real life Louis XVI was forced to meet the protesters.
They forced the royal family to come back to Paris, where they
were confined to Tuilleries.
Decision 8: A new Constitution is
written
It’s June 1791: You have been returned to Paris by the
protesters. Although you are being held prisoners at
Tuilleries, your living conditions are quite good.
You have been told to accept a new constitution that will
limit your royal powers.You are more unpopular than
ever before. It would not be a good idea to reject the
constitution outright.
Agree to the terms of the new Constitution.
OR
Flee from France and get help from someone who cares.
You have agreed to sign the new
Constitution
A good decision
You realize your position is hopeless
By signing the constitution, you live to fight
another day.
Gain 5 respect points, rockstar.
You chose to flee…
A bad decision
Even in disguise you don’t get far.You are caught
and return to Paris immediately. It is obvious
you have lost the trust of your people.
Lose 15 respect points
What did Louis really do?
Louis decided to flee to England with his family.
He was caught at Varennes and was accused of treason.
He was later forced to accept the Constitution limiting his
powers.
How well did you do?
You have completed this simulation…how did you match up to
Louis XVI?
How many respect points do you have left?
 0-24
 25-49
 50-74
 75-100
You have 0-24 points…WOW!
A poor performance for a “king”
You made too many bad
decisions…even Louis XVI could
have done better!
You have lost your royal power and
are hated by the people.
France will most certainly become
a republic and at this very moment
executioners are coming to send
you to the Guillotine.
You have 25-49 points
A below average performance
You mainly made some BAD choices – just
like Louis XVI.
You have lost your royal powers and are
disliked by the people.
France will become a republic and your
execution is very likely.
In short – it bites to be you.
You have 50-74 points left
An above average performance.
You made mainly good decisions – better than
Louis XVI.
You have lost your royal power, but are still fairly
popular with the people.
France will become a Republic, but your
execution seems unlikely…for now.
You have 75 or more points left
An excellent performance
You made lots of good decisions – much better
than Louis XVI.
You have lost most of your royal power, but you are
still liked by the people.
France will become a Republic, but will not
execute you.